Masterclass in Pigments: Ancient Paint Making

Hello, I’m Hannah Tilson, a London-based artist, painter and teacher, working from my studio in Hackney. My paintings explore colour, pattern, world-building and the figure, and a really important part of my practice is making my own paints from pigments and binder. I love the process of transforming raw, powdered pigments into beautiful, workable colours and seeing how they behave on the surface.I’m fascinated by the history of how artists have made their own materials, and by how much you can learn about painting simply by understanding what goes into the paint itself. In my workshops, I share these traditional techniques in a relaxed, welcoming and hands-on way, introducing you to different pigments and binders and showing you how they can be combined to create your own paints. I will talk you through how I make watercolours, and other paints, but we will then focus on working with distemper - used by artists like Mantegna and Vuillard.You don’t need any previous painting experience. I want everyone to feel comfortable experimenting, asking questions and getting stuck in, whether you’re completely new to painting or already have some experience. We’ll experiment with pigments, discover how different colours and materials behave, and use the paints we make ourselves to create something to take home.For me, making paint is as much a part of the creative process as painting with it. There’s something really satisfying about starting with a handful of powder and ending up with a completely unique colour that you’ve made yourself. I’m excited to share that process from my own studio and give you a glimpse into the slightly magical, messy and very satisfying world behind my paintings.I studied Fine Art Painting at the Slade School of Fine Art and have also studied at Central Saint Martins and the New York Studio School. I went on to complete the Drawing Year at the Royal Drawing School, where my interest in materials and traditional painting processes developed further. I now exhibit my work internationally, including at the Royal Academy of Arts, Saatchi Gallery, Somerset House and Whitechapel Gallery in London. I teach drawing and painting at institutions including the Royal Drawing School and the National Gallery, as well as internationally at the International Summer Academy of Fine Arts in Salzburg.